Ondo: Jonathan, PDP supported me, says Oke

THE gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just-concluded election in Ondo State, Chief Olusola Oke has rebutted allegations that President Goodluck Jonathan and the leadership of the party at the national level undermined his chances by refusing to work for him.

Oke, in a statement, said on the contrary, he was well supported by the Presidency and the national leadership of the party, describing the rumours that he attributed his defeat to lack of support from the party as the handiwork of mischief makers and fifth columnists “whose stock in trade is spreading unfounded rumour and feasting from different political camps”.

“I am deeply shocked at this wicked misrepresentation. It would be sheer ingratitude. I have been part of the NEC and I know what the President does. At no time did I insinuate or utter a statement to that effect. It would be a contradiction of myself. What Mr President did for us was in conformity with the standard procedure of our party at all elections”.

Oke added that “I am aware as an officer of the party that the President and the national body of this party take all elections involving our party serious at all times”.

“This insinuation is wicked, mischievous and unprofitable for anyone to brazenly distort facts and misrepresent me on a simple matter. President Jonathan is not just the leader of the party, he insists that all elections must be well supported. He did very well for us and that is why we got this far. He attended our rallies in company of the Vice President and all our party organs”.

Speaking about the support provided by the party, the former legal adviser to the party said: “I got maximum support from my party and the presidency. Next to God, the president was the biggest supporter of our campaign. The insinuation is absolutely incorrect. I’ve done paid advertorial to express my hearth-felt appreciation to the President. We remain eternally grateful to the national body of the PDP. It is, therefore, not out of place to conclude that the misrepresentation of facts was done with tacit sinister motive to cause disaffection among the leadership of the party.”

Oke blamed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the ruling Labour Party for whatever went wrong with his desire to rule the state.

“What went wrong in the election was between the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and the Labour party. That aspect is left for the tribunal to resolve”, Oke noted.